Guinea’s President Mamadi Doumbouya has dismissed 173 members of the country’s armed forces for alleged desertion, in a move that has drawn attention because one of those affected is a senior officer associated with the 2021 military coup that brought Doumbouya to power.
The dismissals were announced through a presidential decree broadcast on Guinea’s national television. The affected personnel were removed from the ranks on grounds of “desertion”, with the decision reportedly based on provisions of the country’s General Statute of Military Personnel.
The 173 personnel include members of different branches and units of Guinea’s security forces, including the Special Forces Group, infantry units, the airborne troops and the national gendarmerie. The breadth of the list makes the decision a significant disciplinary action within the country’s military establishment.
Among those dismissed is Colonel Michel Lamah, a former member of Guinea’s elite Special Forces Group. Lamah became widely known following the September 2021 coup after images emerged showing him alongside former President Alpha Condé after the military takeover.
The authorities have described the dismissals as a disciplinary measure connected to the military obligation to remain available for service and report to assigned units. Guinea’s Ministry of Defence has explained that unauthorised absence from a unit or failure to return within the period stipulated by law can constitute desertion.
Under the explanation provided by the ministry, military personnel are subject to strict requirements regarding attendance, availability, discipline and obedience to lawful orders. Failure to comply can result in both administrative and legal consequences depending on the circumstances.
The decision comes as Doumbouya’s government continues efforts to reorganise Guinea’s military and security institutions. Since taking power in 2021, the authorities have placed considerable emphasis on military discipline, hierarchy and loyalty within the armed forces.
The latest dismissals are therefore significant beyond the individual personnel affected. They reinforce the government’s stated position that military personnel are expected to comply strictly with the rules governing their service.
At the same time, the circumstances surrounding the individual cases have not been publicly detailed for all 173 personnel. The decree identifies desertion as the basis for the dismissals, but available reports do not provide a separate explanation for why each individual was considered to have committed the offence.
This distinction is important because the dismissal is an administrative action based on the authorities’ stated finding of desertion. It should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that all those affected were involved in political activity or an attempt to challenge the government.
The inclusion of Michel Lamah, however, has attracted particular attention because of his connection to the events of September 2021. Doumbouya, then commander of the Special Forces, led the operation that removed Alpha Condé from power and subsequently headed the transitional military government.
Doumbouya later contested Guinea’s presidential election and won by a wide margin, moving from military leadership into an elected presidency. His administration has continued to oversee major changes within the country's political and security institutions.
The latest military dismissals could therefore become another point of interest in discussions about the restructuring of Guinea’s armed forces and the consolidation of military discipline under Doumbouya’s administration.
For the affected personnel, the immediate consequence is their removal from the official strength of the armed forces. The authorities have also indicated that military personnel who violate their obligations can face further legal consequences under the relevant laws.
The development is expected to keep attention focused on Guinea’s military as the government continues its broader institutional reforms.
For now, the official reason given for the dismissals remains desertion, and further details about the individual circumstances of the affected personnel may provide additional clarity as the authorities explain the decision.
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